The Best Places to Travel in December 2026: Where Billionaires Go
The best ski resorts in the world for winter 2026/27 are Courchevel 1850, St Moritz, Zermatt, Gstaad and Lech in the Alps, Alta Badia in the Dolomites, Aspen, Deer Valley, Jackson Hole and Whistler in North America, and Niseko in Japan. For the ultra-wealthy, the most exclusive skiing lies beyond the resorts altogether, at private clubs such as the Yellowstone Club in Montana and private heli-ski lodges in British Columbia. Each place earns its reputation differently, and the best places to go skiing are rarely chosen on snow alone: the hotels, the dining, the ease of arrival and the character of the village matter just as much.
What Makes the Best Ski Resorts Stand Out
Reliable snow is the starting point, but it is rarely what separates one great resort from another. The resorts on this list combine some of the best skiing in the world with hotels and chalets of genuine distinction, restaurants on and off the mountain that would hold their own in any city, and arrival that does not turn the first day of a holiday into a test of endurance. Atmosphere matters too. Some families want the energy of Courchevel or Aspen, others the old-world quiet of Lech or Klosters, and the right choice usually says as much about the family as about the mountain.
The Best Ski Resorts in Europe
The Alps remain the heart of luxury skiing, with the greatest concentration of exceptional hotels, chalets and linked ski areas anywhere in the world. Our guide to the best ski resorts in Europe covers the region in more depth.
Courchevel 1850
Courchevel earns its place as the most complete luxury ski resort in the Alps. It sits at the heart of the Three Valleys, one of the largest linked ski areas in the world, its altiport allows arrival by small aircraft and helicopter almost to the door, and its concentration of palace hotels and catered chalets is unmatched. This winter is one of the most significant in the resort’s recent history, with several new hotels opening, among them the Saint Roch and the Bourbon, both due on 18 December with rooms from around €1,300 a night.
St Moritz
St Moritz is on the list because it remains the most glamorous of the Swiss resorts while keeping a sporting seriousness that others have lost. The Engadin valley is known for its dry climate and sunshine, the skiing on Corviglia and Diavolezza is varied and dependable, and the winter calendar, from horse racing on the frozen lake to the Cresta Run, gives the season a social life that extends well beyond the slopes. Badrutt’s Palace opens in early December and remains the town’s point of reference.
“Families choose a resort for its name and judge the holiday by its logistics. How close the aircraft can land, how long the transfer takes with children and luggage, whether the chalet is genuinely ski-in, and who is waiting at the lift in the morning: these are the details that decide whether a ski holiday feels effortless.” Billionaire Concierge
Zermatt
Zermatt earns its place for the combination of altitude, scenery and a village that remains free of cars. The Matterhorn rises directly above the resort, the high glacier terrain makes it one of the more dependable choices early and late in the season, and it is possible to ski across the border into Italy for lunch. For those who prefer to stay above the village rather than in it, the Riffelalp Resort sits at 2,222 metres and opens on 11 December, reached by its own mountain railway.
Gstaad
Gstaad suits families who value discretion above spectacle. The village keeps its chalet character and a deliberately low profile, the skiing is gentler than in the higher resorts, and much of life happens in private homes rather than in public. This winter brings a notable arrival: Fouquet’s Gstaad opens on 4 December with just eleven suites and six apartments, joining the Gstaad Palace, which opens in mid-December and has long been the heart of the resort’s social season.
Lech am Arlberg
Lech represents quiet old money at its most assured. The resort has long chosen to limit numbers on its slopes, the village has resisted overdevelopment, and its hotels are frequently family-run across generations, which gives them a continuity of service that newer properties struggle to replicate. The Arlberg offers some of Austria’s finest skiing and off-piste terrain, and the atmosphere is unhurried, private and deeply traditional.
Alta Badia and the Dolomites
The Dolomites earn their place as the most rewarding Italian choice for luxury skiing. Alta Badia is celebrated for its food, with skiers able to travel from hut to hut tasting dishes created by Michelin-starred chefs, while the Dolomiti Superski pass opens around 1,200 kilometres of runs beneath some of the most dramatic peaks in Europe. Aman Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano reopens for winter on 4 December with just 51 rooms and suites, a quieter Italian alternative for families who find Cortina too busy.
The Best Ski Resorts in North America
North America offers more reliable snow in many seasons, wide-open terrain and a style of service built around ease. Colorado alone has some of the finest resorts on the continent, from Aspen to Vail, Beaver Creek and Telluride, all covered in our guide to the best ski resorts in Colorado, while our guide to the best ski resorts in the US looks across the whole country.
Aspen
Aspen is the American resort that most closely matches the Alps for sophistication. It offers four mountains under one pass, a town with a genuine cultural life, and a dining and gallery scene that keeps families engaged long after the lifts close. Christmas and New Year are its busiest weeks, and for those arriving privately, where an aircraft will wait over the holidays should be settled well before the trip.
Deer Valley, Utah
Deer Valley earns its place for service, a reputation built on details such as ski valets who meet guests at the car and immaculately groomed runs. It is also one of the easiest luxury resorts in North America to reach, a short drive from Salt Lake City. This season it opens on 5 December with a significant expansion: the new Hail Peak Express lift adds around 200 acres and seven runs that have never been skied before.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole is on the list for the seriousness of its skiing. Its steep terrain and big vertical make it a favourite of accomplished skiers, while the valley below, with its ranches and wide views of the Tetons, offers a sense of space and privacy that the more social resorts cannot match.
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
Whistler earns its place for sheer scale. It is one of the largest ski areas in North America, with terrain to keep every ability engaged for a week or more, and it serves as the natural gateway to British Columbia’s heli-skiing, which offers some of the best skiing in the world for those who want to go further.
The Best Skiing in Japan
Niseko
Niseko is on the list for its snow, which is among the lightest and most consistent anywhere in the world, falling steadily through December and January. The resort pairs that powder with Japanese hospitality, private onsen baths and exceptional food, and it is steadily moving upmarket, with branded private villas, including Japan’s first Park Hyatt villas, now being developed for those who want a home there rather than a hotel.
The Most Exclusive Ski Resorts
For some families, even the finest resort is too public. The most exclusive skiing in the world takes place where access itself is limited, whether by membership, by remoteness or by taking over an entire property.
The Yellowstone Club, Montana
The Yellowstone Club describes itself as the only private ski resort in the world, and its exclusivity is the point. Skiing is reserved for members and their guests, membership is by invitation, and initiation fees run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars before a home on the mountain is even considered. The result is empty runs, no lift queues and a community of families who value privacy above all else.
A Private Heli-Ski Lodge in British Columbia
For those who want the mountain entirely to themselves, nothing compares with taking over a heli-ski lodge in British Columbia. A private buyout typically brings the whole lodge, dedicated helicopters, guides and staff, with untracked terrain across vast wilderness and no other guests to share it with. Over Christmas, one such buyout costs in the region of USD $189,000 for up to 24 guests, which for a large family or a group of friends makes it the most private ski holiday there is.
Bella Coola, British Columbia
Bella Coola earns its place for the scale of its wilderness. Heli-skiing here covers an area hundreds of times larger than Whistler Blackcomb, with guests staying at a remote lodge far from any resort, and on most days the only tracks on the mountain belong to the group.
Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado
Dunton Hot Springs is a restored nineteenth-century mining town in the mountains near Telluride, with just thirteen cabins. In winter it can be reached only by snowcat or helicopter, and its natural hot springs are reserved for guests alone, which makes it one of the most private mountain retreats in North America.
Klosters, Switzerland
Klosters represents a quieter kind of exclusivity. Long favoured by the British royal family, it has remained deliberately low-key, with excellent skiing shared with Davos and a village that has never sought attention. Its appeal lies in what it chooses not to be.
Where to Ski in Spring
When the Alpine season begins to wind down, the most adventurous skiers head north. Deplar Farm in Iceland offers heli-skiing from the property down to the Arctic Ocean between March and June. In Norway’s Lyngen Alps, it is possible to sleep aboard a yacht and ski directly from snow-covered beaches through spring, with the long Arctic light extending each day. Greenland goes further still, with heli-ski descents of close to 2,000 metres down to the fjords on trips that run from late March into April.
When to Book a Luxury Ski Holiday
The most sought-after chalets for Christmas, New Year and the February school holidays are often committed many months ahead, frequently by late summer, and families who return to the same chalet each year tend to secure it long before it reaches the open market. Hotels opening for the first time can be easier to secure in their first season, simply because they have no returning guests yet.
Timing within the season matters too. Early December is quieter and often better value, but snow cover can be less certain, so high-altitude resorts such as Zermatt, Courchevel and St Moritz are the safer choice for the start of the season. January brings cold, settled conditions and quieter slopes after the holidays, while March offers longer, sunnier days. Private heli-ski lodge buyouts and spring expeditions sit at the far end of the scale, with the best weeks often reserved a year or more in advance. For families planning across several resorts or seasons, a luxury travel concierge can secure the chalet, aircraft and transfers together rather than piece by piece.
Looking Ahead
The next frontier for luxury skiing is Japan. Beyond Niseko, Six Senses Myoko is due to open in early 2029 with a slopeside hotel and residences, bringing a new level of luxury to the deep snows of the Myoko Kogen region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best ski resorts in the world?
The best ski resorts in the world include Courchevel 1850, St Moritz, Zermatt, Gstaad and Lech in the Alps, Alta Badia in the Dolomites, Aspen, Deer Valley, Jackson Hole and Whistler in North America, and Niseko in Japan. Each combines excellent skiing with exceptional hotels, chalets and dining.
Where are the best places to go skiing?
The Alps offer the greatest concentration of luxury resorts and linked ski areas, Colorado and Utah offer reliable snow and outstanding service, and Japan offers some of the lightest powder snow in the world. The best choice depends on whether a family values atmosphere, terrain, snow quality or privacy most.
Where is the best skiing in the world?
For sheer scale, the Three Valleys in France and the Dolomiti Superski area in Italy are among the largest ski areas in the world. For powder, Niseko in Japan is exceptional, and for untracked terrain, heli-skiing in British Columbia offers some of the best skiing anywhere.
What is the most exclusive ski resort in the world?
The Yellowstone Club in Montana describes itself as the only private ski resort in the world, with skiing reserved for members and their guests. A full buyout of a heli-ski lodge in British Columbia offers a similar level of privacy without membership.
Which ski resorts are best for families?
Lech, Megève and Deer Valley are particularly well suited to families, combining gentler terrain, excellent ski schools and a calmer atmosphere. Courchevel also works well for families with mixed abilities, thanks to its size and range of runs.
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